finite | Horse Racing Free Tips

Filly & Mare Sprint: Raven Run Winner Venetian Harbor To Remain At Keeneland ‘For Now’

California-based trainer Richard Baltas has a string of horses at Churchill Downs, but for now Venetian Harbor will remain at Keeneland following her neck victory over Finite in Saturday's $200,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) at the Lexington, Ky., track.

“She will stay at Keeneland for now, and we will see how she is doing in the next few days,” Baltas said via text Sunday morning.

Owned by Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Domenic Savides, Venetian Harbor may have earned herself a spot in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland on Nov. 7, a spot that co-owner Joseph Ciaglia said was likely after the race.

Venetian Harbor found herself on an uncontested lead and was able to hold off Finite to secure her second Grade 2 victory.

The runner-up finish by Finite came on her first start on dirt in seven months.

“Yesterday was a big effort and we'll see how she trains going forward,” said David Fiske, Racing and Bloodstock Manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds, the principal owner in the filly's partnership group, via text. “There are no plans for her yet. We all were pleased to see her return to a level of competition that we thought she was capable of.”

Trainer Cherie DeVaux said Lael Stables' Reagan's Edge, who finished fourth beaten a nose for third and less than a length for the win, came out of the race in good shape.

“She ran her heart out yesterday and is a little tired this morning,” DeVaux said. “She is nominated to the (Qatar) Fort Springs (here on Nov. 7) but that may be coming back a little quick.”

The post Filly & Mare Sprint: Raven Run Winner Venetian Harbor To Remain At Keeneland ‘For Now’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Venetian Harbor Holds Off Finite For Munnings Exacta In Raven Run

Second behind Speech in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in July, Southern California-based Venetian Harbor returned to the Lexington, Ky., track to win Saturday's G2, $200,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in front-running fashion under Manny Franco.

Trained by Richard Baltas and owned by Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Domenic Savides, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Munnings held off a late charge from multiple graded stakes winner Finite – also by Munnings – to win by a neck, with Grand Cru Class third, Reagan's Edge fourth and Tonalist's Shape fifth in the field of eight.

Off as the 3-2 favorite, Venetian Harbor paid $5.20 to win and covered seven furlongs in 1:23.02 on a fast track after setting fractions of :23.06, :46.17 and 1:10.34.

“I was a little bit concerned about the 2 horse (Four Graces), and when I saw she didn't break (in front) I decided to go then,” said Franco. “She's happy when she's in the lead. She showed it today. She's a nice filly.”

It was the third win in seven starts for Venetian Harbor, who was produced from the Street Cry mare Sounds of the City. She was bred by Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables and purchased from the eighth session of the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $110,000, then bought back for $205,000 at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training.

A winner around two turns earlier this year in the G2 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita, Venetian Harbor last raced Aug. 8 in the seven-furlong G1 Test Stakes at Saratoga, where she finished seven lengths behind Gamine.

Venetian Harbor is headed to the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, to be run at the same seven-furlong distance at Keeneland on Nov. 7. Sprinting is in her blood, as she traces back four generations in her female family to Hall of Fame runner Safely Kept, the 1989 champion sprinter and winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in 1990 against males.

Finite ran a good race to be second for Steve Asmussen under Ricardo Santana Jr. in her second start since undergoing surgery to remove an ankle chip this spring. A Winchell homebred daughter of Munnings, Finite is a two-time G2 winner who soundly defeated G1 Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver in the G2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds in February.

In the Raven Run, Finite raced in mid-pack while well off the rail as Venetian Harbor went unchallenged on the lead, then followed the winner into the stretch. She switched to the rail when Venetian Harbor drifted out slightly and was gaining on her in the final strides.

The post Venetian Harbor Holds Off Finite For Munnings Exacta In Raven Run appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Venetian Harbor Leads Munnings 1-2 in Lexus Raven Run

Venetian Harbor (Munnings) was hustled to the front by Manny Franco and made all the running, holding off Finite (Munnings) by a neck to lead home a one-two finish for her in-form, young sire in the GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland Saturday.

The bay, favored at 8-5 while seeking her first win since a blowout victory in the GII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita back in February, led the field of eight through early fractions of :23.06 and :46.17, and was traveling nicely as they hit the quarter pole.

She kicked for home with a two-length advantage, but was looking for the wire as GII Golden Rod S. and GII Rachel Alexandra S. heroine Finite came with a menacing rail run in deep stretch. Venetian Harbor had just enough left in the tank to hold on, however, and punch her ticket to next month’s GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

“Our intention was to go to the Breeders’ Cup, but we felt this would be a good opportunity to get a race in her,” winning co-owner Joseph Ciaglia said. “I couldn’t be any happier today.”

He continued, “She’s great out of the gate. She’s tenacious, and that’s what you need to win some races. Gotta be quick out of the gate. Manny [Franco] did a great job getting out of the gate, and that was the key to the win.”

Franco added, “She’s happy when she’s on the lead. She showed it today. She’s a nice filly.”

Venetian Harbor rounded out the bottom half of the exacta in her last three trips to the post behind some heavy hitters. She was second to the mighty Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn May 1, second to Speech (Mr Speaker) in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. July 11 and second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Longines Test S. last time Aug. 8.

Pedigree Notes:

Ashford sire Munnings nabbed the Raven Run exacta with 3-year-old daughters facing each other for the first time. Both Venetian Harbor and Finite are graded stakes winners of 2020 and join other current top sophomore filly and fellow graded winner Bonny South in the Speightstown son’s count of 17 graded winners and 42 black-type winners overall. Interestingly, Finite and Bonny South are both out of Tapit daughters, but Venetian Harbor is out of a daughter of Street Cry (Ire). Like Munnings, the late Street Cry had gotten plenty of good sons, but it was his daughters who really seemed to shine. As a broodmare sire, Street Cry has 77 black-type winners, including last year’s champion older male Vino Rosso (Curlin). Venetian Harbor is the second foal out of her dam, whose only foal since was a colt born this year by Oscar Performance. She was bred back to both Constitution and Speightstown for next term. Venetian Harbor’s fourth dam is Hall of Famer Safely Kept (Horatius), winner of the 1990 GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Saturday, Keeneland
LEXUS RAVEN RUN S.-GII, $200,000, Keeneland, 10-17, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.03, ft.
1–VENETIAN HARBOR, 120, f, 3, by Munnings
1st Dam: Sounds of the City, by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Welcome Home, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Safe Return, by Mr. Prospector
($110,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $205,000 RNA 2yo ’19 OBSAPR). O-Ciaglia Racing LLC, Highland Yard LLC, River Oak Farm & Domenic Savides; B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY); T-Richard Baltas; J-Manuel Franco. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-4-0, $503,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Finite, 120, f, 3, Munnings–Remit, by Tapit. ($200,000 2yo ’19 EASMAY). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Thomas J Reiman, William Dickson & Deborah A Easter; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $40,000.
3–Grand Cru Classe, 118, f, 3, Bernardini–Christmas Lass, by Lemon Drop Kid. ($137,000 Ylg ’18 FTKOCT; $335,000 2yo ’19 EASMAY). O-Speedway Stable LLC; B-Daniel J Burke (KY); T-William I Mott. $20,000.
Margins: NK, HF, NO. Odds: 1.60, 9.40, 20.10.
Also Ran: Reagan’s Edge, Tonalist’s Shape, Secondary Market, Four Graces, Secret Keeper. Scratched: Fair Maiden, Never Forget.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Venetian Harbor Leads Munnings 1-2 in Lexus Raven Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fillies And Mares In Kentucky Downs Tuesday Spotlight In Trio Of Rescheduled Stakes

Fillies and mares will be in the spotlight Tuesday, with three stakes headlining the rescheduled penultimate card of the RUNHAPPY at Kentucky Downs meet in Franklin, Ky.

The $400,000 Untapable Stakes for 2-year-old filly sprinters and $400,000 Music City Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters are new this year, with the $500,000 TVG Stakes at 1 5/16 miles in its 10th running.

The 11-race card was moved from Sunday to Tuesday because of the rain that pelted the area during Saturday's races and again Sunday morning. Any horses who were early scratches out of Sunday's races now have been reinstated, with horsemen having to re-scratch if they wish to come out. Scratch time for Tuesday's races is Monday at 9 a.m. Central, with stakes horses on the also-eligible list having until 10 a.m. Tuesday to draw into the field.

Here's a look at the stakes:

$500,000 TVG Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 5/16 miles (race 9, 4:32 p.m. Central) — Mrs. Sippy is the even-money favorite in the field of six as she makes her second start of her 5-year-old season, having been second in Saratoga's Grade 3 Waya Stakes at 1 1/2 miles by a neck. A Grade 2 winner last year, Mrs. Sippy also was a close second in Belmont's Grade 1 Flower Bowl to top mare Sister Charlie.

Michael Dickinson ships in from Maryland with 5-2 second choice Theodora B., front-running winner of Woodbine's Grade 2 Dance Smartly in her last start. She's also run well over courses with some give in the ground so anticipated overnight rain shouldn't be an issue.

Trainer Rusty Arnold scratched English Affair, winner of Ellis Park's Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf in a bog, out of Saturday's $500,000 English Channel Ladies Turf in hopes of getting softer turf and also the longer distance. The irony is English Affair now might encounter firmer turf, with the forecast calling for sunshine Monday and Tuesday. Rounding out the field California invader Siberian Iris, Over Thinking and Delta's Kingdom.

Here's the field in post position order (with jockey, trainer and odds): Delta's Kingdom (Florent Geroux/Bill Mott 20-1), Theodora B. (Irad Ortiz/Michael Dickinson 5-2), Mrs. Sippy (Joel Rosario/Graham Motion even), English Affair (Rafael Bejarano/Rusty Arnold 7-2), Siberian Iris (Flavien Prat/Richard Mandella 12-1), Over Thinking (Luis Saez/Victoria Oliver 8-1).

$400,000 Untapable for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs (race 10, 5:04 p.m. Central) — The Wesley Ward-trained Red Ghost is the 3-1 favorite in the field of 11 off winning her debut by 8 1/2 lengths at Saratoga in a race taken off the turf.

Mad Maddy certainly has an experience edge, with four seconds in four maiden races, the last two on turf at Saratoga. The daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen for Ron Winchell, co-owner of Kentucky Downs and whose Winchell Thoroughbreds bred and campaigned champion Untapable, the 2014 Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup Distaff winner for whom the stakes is named.

Other contenders include Ellis Park debut winners La Libertee, Lady Edith, Emro and Lady Goldstart; out-of-state invaders Taylor's Tourist (Louisiana), Fouzia (Florida), Kewpie Doll (Maryland), Becca's Bouquet (Texas). Taylor's Tourist is an interesting horse at 12-1 odds in the morning line, coming in off a 9 3/4-length win at Evangeline Downs. And while that's considered the comparative minor leagues to Kentucky, New York and California, her speed figures for that performance put her in the thick of things should she take to the grass. Mike Maker, Kentucky Downs' all-time win leader, will saddle Herald Angel, who was second in a New York-bred maiden race at Saratoga. The fact that he didn't keep the filly in New York with his Belmont Park division is telling.

Here's the field in post position order (with jockey, trainer and odds): Lady Goldstart (Chris Landeros/Ian Wilkes 8-1), Taylor's Tourist (Florent Geroux/Scott Geiner 12-1), Red Ghost (Jose Ortiz/Wesley Ward 3-1), Becca's Bouquet (Robby Albarado/Scott Geiner 20-1), Herald Angel (Irad Ortiz/Mike Maker 12-1), Kewpie Doll (Tyler Gaffalione, Cathal Lynch 20-1), Fouzia (Julien Leparoux/Saffie Joseph Jr. 20-1), Lady Edith (Colby Hernandez/Tommy Drury 6-1), Mad Maddy (Ricardo Santana/Steve Asmussen 8-1), La Libertee (Adam Beschizza/Mark Casse 9-2), Emro (Shaun Bridgmohan/Brad Cox 6-1).

$400,000 Music City for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs (11th race, 5:36 p.m. Central): Kimari, scratched out of Saturday's $500,000, Grade 3 Real Solution Ladies Sprint, is the 3-1 favorite, with trainer Wesley Ward also entering her in Wednesday's closing-day feature, the $500,000, Grade 3 Franklin-Simpson against males. However, on Saturday Ward said his plan is to run Kimari in the Music City. In two starts this year, Kimari won Oaklawn Park's Purple Martin in the slop then was a rallying second after being left at the start in Royal Ascot's Group 1 Commonwealth Cup in England. Kimari was one of the top 2-year-old turf sprinters of either sex.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Finite, who stamped herself as one of the best of her generation over the winter, comes in off almost a six-month layoff following the surgical removal of a bone chip after a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. After winning a Kentucky Downs maiden race a year ago in her only start on turf, Finite reeled off four stakes victories on dirt, capped by the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra in New Orleans.

The Shug McGaughey-trained Enola Gay, winner of Keeneland's Grade 2 Appalachian at a mile before finishing fifth in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks, shortens back to sprinting over the course where she won her debut last year. She's My Type, trained by Christophe Clement, won Saratoga's $100,000 Coronation Cup in her last start and never runs a bad race.

Santa Anita stakes-winner She's So Special and Lighthouse ship in from California. Other contenders include Grade 3 Florida Oaks winner Outburst, Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up Lucrezia and stakes-winners Miss J McKay and She's So Special. Mom's Red Lipstick, Fashionable Lady, Poseidon's Passion and Lucky Jingle were early scratches but now have been reinstated into the field unless their connections opt to again scratch them.

Here's the field in post position order (with jockey, trainer and odds): Lucrezia (James Graham/Arnaud Delacour 12-1), Outburst (Florent Geroux/Eddie Kenneally 20-1), Mom's Red Lipstick (Ricardo Santana, Chris Block 30-1), Bredenbury (Luis Saez/Graham Motion 12-1), Enola Gay (Julien Leparoux/Shug McGaughey 9-2), She's My Type (Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement 5-1), She's So Special (Flavien Prat/Peter Miller 12-1), Finite (Jose Ortiz/Steve Asmussen 8-1), Lighthouse (Umberto Rispoli/Simon Callaghan 8-1), Kimari (Irad Ortiz/Wesley Ward 3-1), Miss J McKay (Tyler Gaffalione/Cathal Lynch 10-1), Hear My Prayer (Rafael Bejarano/David Fisher 30-1), Fashionable Lady (Florent Geroux/Michael Ann Ewing 30-1), Evil Lyn (Shaun Bridgmohan/Mike Maker 20-1), Poseidon's Passion (Mitchell Murrill/James Gulick 30-1), Lucky Jingle (Jose Ortiz/Graham Motion 30-1).

The post Fillies And Mares In Kentucky Downs Tuesday Spotlight In Trio Of Rescheduled Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post